People don’t realize it, but the people in the addiction/recovery community work hard. I got to thinking today about how I could measure success with the work I do. Up until three weeks ago all I did was write in my blogs and spread awareness through posters/memes and news stories on social media. So how do you measure success with something so difficult to measure?

IF I HELP ONE PERSON, IT WILL BE WORTH IT. We have probably all said, thought or at the very least heard this in our community. So I have good news for you all. Here goes:

Entering this community I was on Suboxone but wasn’t working a program, and my life sucked. Just like an addict, I didn’t go through the front door, I snuck around back and climbed in the window. My road to recovery was Suboxone, period point blank ( suboxone saved my life, and this is just my story I believe whatever works- work it) I didn’t need a sponsor, meetings, a higher power or any of that, just Suboxone. I was adamant about it. After relapsing too many times to count in the past 20 years, I figured Suboxone was the best route for me.

I went to war with my family and my doctor over staying on Suboxone and being accepted for it. So if I knew anything at all entering this community it was that I was an addict and I would be on Suboxone for the rest of my life. I was 43.

If you had told me the day I snuck in that window that I would own a blog with traffic, would be working with a radio station and three of the coolest guys in the recovery community, I wouldn’t have believed you.

The past year of my life has been one crazy ride. I gave up drugs and picked up a mission. The day I typed addiction into the search bar on Facebook, I was shocked. I was an active regular social Facebook user, and I had no idea that this world, our world, even existed. You would think I would have run into a meme or something, but no, nothing.

Within one year this community has turned my life around. You gave me the strength to give up the Suboxone. I learned that I am a whole lot tougher than I thought I was. I found skills that I didn’t know I had and self-worth that I never had. I have a resume that doesn’t have one single lie on it, and it still looks impressive. I sold a business and opened three more. I got two incredible opportunities to continue doing awareness work, but now I can eat too.

Now my friends are writers, artists, lawyers ( that I didn’t have to hire ) paralegals, and so much more. You’ve taken the time to teach me and to build me up. In this past year, you have given me life-enriching skills, relationships, experiences and even things to look forward to.

So I wanted to give you guys this Chrismas gift early. Once I figured out the amazing gift that you guys gave me this year. I couldn’t wait to give yours to you.